Tools and resources for policymakers

Tools and Resources for Policymakers

Tools and resources for policymakers content

State Guide to MHPAEA Requirements

The guide is designed for state regulators of commercial health plans that have to comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). It features recommendations for which critical addiction treatment benefits should be offered, examples of how limitations placed on coverage of addiction benefits can undermine addiction care and why they should not be used, and a summary of the MHPAEA final rule.

Essential Health Benefits Recommendations for States

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires certain health plans to cover essential health benefits (EHB), which include addiction benefits. However, no blueprint for optimum or even effective services is provided in either the law or its regulations. CASAColumbia offers recommendations that have been shown to improve patient outcomes and can be expected to reduce the costly consequences to states of untreated addiction and risky substance use.